Page 1 of Lady for Embers

Part One

WHEN ASHES MELD WITH SHADOWS

Chapter 1

Cyrus

TheDay the Stars Went Out—Three Weeks Ago

"What the fuck?” Cyrus demanded when they appeared from the air in Cassius’s rooms where he and Eliza were waiting for them.

Cyrus’s gaze went from Cassius, who was holding a screaming Scarlett, thrashing violently in his arms, to Rayner kneeling beside the Prince of Fire, who was as still as death on the ?oor before them. The Ash Rider met Cyrus’s golden eyes. Pain and grief and sorrow stared back at him.

And he knew in that moment what was going to happen. “Get her to the beach. Now,” Cyrus ordered.

“I can’t Travel again so quickly,” Cassius panted, trying to keep a hold of Scarlett. “I haven’t—” He grunted at her elbow breaking free and slamming into his gut. “I haven’t used the power enough, and she is drawing from me. I have nothing left,” he ?nished, wrestling with her to try to get her back under control.

But there would be no controlling her. There would be no stopping what was to come.

No one knew that better than him.

Cyrus turned to Briar. “A portal, Drayce. Now,” he said, moving forward to help with the mess of darkness and shadows and ashes before him. Cassius was pale, and Cyrus could tell he needed blood; but even that would have to wait until they got Scarlett some place she could implode and not take out everyone around her.

“The mortals?” the Water Prince asked, a water portal opening behind him.

Cyrus glanced at the Crown Prince of Windonelle who washolding a child. His other arm was wrapped around Tava Tyndell, and her brother, Drake, stood next to her.

“If we do not get her out of here, there will be nothing left of the mortals to worry about.” He had to yell to be heard over Scarlett’s piercing screams. “Bring him, Rayner,” he added, looking back at the Ash Rider, who still knelt beside their prince and king. His best friend. Eliza had fallen to her knees at his side, silent tears tracking down the general’s face.

Cyrus helped Cassius haul Scarlett through the portal. “Let me take her, Cass. She is drawing from you. You are weakening,” he said as they stepped onto sand, his boots sinking in.

Cassius nodded, letting Cyrus snake his arms around Scarlett, drawing her into his chest.

“Scarlett.” He wasn’t nearly loud enough for her to hear him, but he couldn’t speak around the thickness in his throat. He knew what she was experiencing. He knew she wouldn’t hear him anyway. Not with the hysteria, the pain, the utter agony she was currently feeling.

That would not let up anytime soon.

He did not remember much of the initial days and weeks after Thia was taken from him. He could not say what he did, what he said. The others told him he’d raged, destroyed things with ?ames. He was told he’d go from being quiet and still, seemingly unable to hear them, to bellowing in pain and fury while torching anything in sight. Apparently he’d thrown down more than once with all of them, oftentimes without warning.

Cyrus didn’t remember anything aside from the agony and pain and unrelenting grief.

“Sorin!”

That was all she screamed. Over and over and over. Gasps came between each scream as she managed to drag air into her lungs.

Cyrus forced Scarlett to the sand as he lowered himself down so he could wrap his legs around hers to keep her from kicking at them. He cradled her thrashing body tightly to him. It had taken both Sorin and Rayner to restrain him when Thia had died. He knew if her power reserves had been even slightly full, this would not be possible. She had to be completely drained for him to be overpowering her this easily.

Her face was pressed to his chest, her tears soaking through his tunic and into his skin. He pressed a hand to the back of her head,threading his ?ngers into her hair, holding her there. He looked over at Eliza as another portal opened and Briar stepped through with Hazel. Cyrus hadn’t realized the Water Prince had left.

The High Witch looked at her son ?rst before her gaze moved to the queen, then to the king, her eyes going wide with shock as she dropped to Sorin’s side. White light ?ared, but a minute later, when violet eyes met his, Cyrus knew what she was going to say.

There was nothing she could do.

She was saying something to Rayner, and the Ash Rider was nodding in understanding, but Cyrus couldn’t hear anything over Scarlett’s unrelenting cries.

“Scarlett,” Cyrus murmured, bringing his mouth close to her ear. “Darling.” He swallowed thickly. “Scarlett, you are not alone. Hear me. Please. You are not alone. You are not alone.”

Her screams became sobs, and then she couldn’t breathe. She was gasping for breath.

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